The Authority is the voice of the Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association, a group of about 150 authors who share information about writing and the world of publishing and marketing books and work to support one another by helping new writers to succeed and established writers to find new marketing avenues.

Saturday, July 28, 2007

Book marketing

To Market....... To Market

by Cynthia S. Bercowetz

When I was in sixth grade, I wrote the following in a car contest: "If a strong and sturdy car is your delight, come to Shapiro's and be treated right." I won! I must have had ideas about promoting at that young age.I have had many ideas on promoting and marketing my books. They may not be the traditonal ways but they have proven successful.My biggest promotion is a book party at my home. I usually have 75 to 100 friends, town officials and anyone interested in attending a party. I have had an orchestra for the past two books.For my second book, "Unforgettable Recipes and Savvy Consumer Tips", I had local cooks bring samples of their recipes in the books to the book party. The introduction of the book is by a well-known chef and he attended too with his recipes that made a hit.For my third book,"Grandpa Herman's Pettng Zoo", a true story about animals at a former petting zoo at COPACO in Bloomfield, I will have a local farm bring over some of the animals that were similar to the ones in the book. They will be outside on our lawn.I tuck a book at my dentist's office and other medical offices I visit. It pays off. Patients have called to purchase books.In Naples, Fl., I had a book party at the Elks Lodge. The chef at the Lodge has recipes in the book. It was most successful.I had a book signing at a book store in Naples that did not have a high attendance. I went across the way to a pizza place for lunch. Customers asked why I was dressed up and the others were very casual. I told them about the book signing and many in line wanted to buy my books. So, there I was book signing at the pizza place.I also like to help other authors to promote their books. I have a TV show on Channel Five and interview guests. For further information, contact me at consumreye@aol.com.Cynthia Susan Bercowetz.

About Us

"The Authority" is the voice of CAPA.
Meetings of the Connecticut Authors & Publishers Association are held in Avon, Connecticut on the 3rd Saturday of the month from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Avon Community Center in Sycamore Hills Park, 635 West Avon Road, CT Route 167.
CAPA gatherings welcome all writers, agents, editors, columnists, publishers and anyone interested in finding out about these endeavors. They are open to the public, with no attendance charge for the first two meetings. The $48.00 annual dues include all lectures and programs plus a subscription the monthly newsletter, “The Authority.”
co-editors: Peggy Gaffney & David Garnes

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Blog Archive

Niche Marketing by Brian Jud

Why sell to niche markets? 5/24/07

People go to bookstores to buy books. There, your books are on a shelf, surrounded by competitive books. In niche marketing, you make your books available to prospective buyers in a non-competitive setting. In addition:

1) Your promotional dollars are more efficient because of less wasted circulation. You can be very specific in the people you contact and the benefits your present.

2) Your title may be the only one available in a place where there is no competition and no price comparison. You can offer your books for sale in car washes, doctors’ offices, banks, restaurants, ski lodges, movie theaters, appliance stores or coffee shops.

3) It may be easier to sell to niche markets than those in large corporations. Proprietors of small businesses look upon books favorably as a special service to their customers, a source of incremental revenue.

4) Most of these venues purchase directly from the publisher, so there may be no distribution discounts.

5) The individual orders will typically be smaller than those in the Commercial Sales segment, but you will find the buying period shorter, the process less formal and access to buyers through mass communications.